How do you actually start to organize?

Victorsgal · September 2011

I love a clean organized home but have a hard time actually starting the process of organizing. I have it all layed out in my head, but can never take the plunge. There is always something going on, either with one of the kids or I'm just plain tired. So how do you take the plunge? I have read fly lady and other blogs and even hired a proffessional organizer to get me started - I just can't start. Any tips, ideas?

katydid17 · September 2011

I enlist the help of a friend or the hubby - not necessarily to DO anything, other than keep me on task and prevent me from making excuses and wandering off to do other things. Sit them down, tell them your game plan and let them do their own thing, but have them remind you what you're doing frequently. ;-)

Victorsgal · September 2011

Good idea, will try that this weekend. Thanks.

katydid17:
I enlist the help of a friend or the hubby - not necessarily to DO anything, other than keep me on task and prevent me from making excuses and wandering off to do other things. Sit them down, tell them your game plan and let them do their own thing, but have them remind you what you're doing frequently. ;-)

ShannersLA · September 2011

I am an avid list maker - can't live w/o them. I find the easiest, best way to utilize your time to the fullest & to get the most done is to prioritze your tasks by writing them down. Usually whatever comes to mind first, is the most important and so on.

Also, it's important to focus on one area/one room at a time...I tend to get sidetracked and then before I know it, I have 6 projects going on at once. Give your full attention to the coat closet and then move onto the linen closet, then the bedroom closet, etc. etc.

gbtc01 · September 2011

To get the ball rolling I started with a drawer. We had a catch all drawer in our hutch and I started there. Then I moved onto bigger things slowly and took a closet a day kind of thing until I was satisfied. I have gone back through the closets a few times since to get rid of more of the stuff we still haven't used. We are both sentimental about things given to us so its usually a few years before we get rid of unused gifted items.

I say start small and build up. It's not as overwhelming that way.

stefwhitney · September 2011

ShannersLA:
I am an avid list maker - can't live w/o them. I find the easiest, best way to utilize your time to the fullest & to get the most done is to prioritze your tasks by writing them down. Usually whatever comes to mind first, is the most important and so on.

Also, it's important to focus on one area/one room at a time...I tend to get sidetracked and then before I know it, I have 6 projects going on at once. Give your full attention to the coat closet and then move onto the linen closet, then the bedroom closet, etc. etc.

THIS exactly. This is what I do. Also, start small.

Tweetysvoice · September 2011

I agree with the above posts. I started off with the cabinet under my bathroom sink. Then moved to the junk drawer in the kitchen. Then it was the tupperware cabinet.. I just chose one small area to do in the evening. I was surprised at how much I could throw away and donate and how quickly it went, but it felt so good to do it!!

Note: we are moving in a month, so I had to start this process to make it easier to move, but I am going to continue with the ideas in the new house to keep it nice and organzied. Good Luck!! and just think about how accomplished you will feel after just one small area is done!!

whineymom · September 2011

I'd make a to do list first. Then I'd tackle at least one a day until it's done. Once you get started it'll feel good and you'll just keep going. It's like exercise, getting started can be sluggish and slow but once you start seeing some results you'll be full speed ahead! Happy organizing!

pammieface · September 2011

DO NOT TRY TO DO EVERYTHING IN ONE SHOT. it's too overwhelming to think you have to tackle your whole house at once. yikes. i clean out my whole house every summer, but i plan it out so i'm only doing one room or area at a time. maybe plan to do one room per weekend or one area or closet per day. you will feel so good after getting one section done that you'll be ready for the next one. but if you need to take a few days' rest in between, go ahead and take it. just don't try doing everything at once, because then you'll have an overwhelming mess on your hands that you won't know what to do with and it will crush your spirit. (believe me.)

pbandjessie · September 2011

I like to work on only one room at a time. I don't ever move on to another room until the one I've already began is compelte. Also, I know for me personally getting organized means getting rid of stuff. When my husband and I moved in together we had a ridiculous amount of stuff. Now every room in my house is organized except for one which is currently being used as a storage area. I plan on getting in there soon to turn into a craft room/office.

KyleandAndrea · September 2011

I have the same problem. What I do is I actually schedule organizing time either at the beginning of my day before I get busy or before I wind down for bed. I start small and break it down into steps.

wwchloerunning · September 2011

I try to allocate 5-10 minutes a night to my closet because that's where I struggle the most. This way it doesn't get out of control.

EdithBouvierBeale · September 2011

I sketch what I want the finished result to be, and then I empty out whatever space Im organizing- if it's a cabinet, I just unload everything, and then start to put it back the way I want it- discarding things that I don't use, want , or need.

this worked really well for me with all of our closets, laundry, and cabinets and play room. and then I was happy when it all turned out the way I hoped- it helps to know what kind of bins/ containers you'll use.

How do you actually start to organize?

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